Kyle Shanahan looks on from the sidelines.
When players have career years, they often want to be paid like some of the top players in the league. That was the case for Terry McLaurin, and after last season, he’s now requested a trade from the Washington Commanders.
Reports have indicated that McLaurin wants out, and the San Francisco 49ers could significantly benefit from that. When looking at potential trade options, Newsweek proposed the idea of the 49ers trading for him. They noted that he wants a new contract, a deserving one, but considering the Commanders haven’t been willing to pay him yet, he could be a better fit elsewhere, including the 49ers.
“Staying in the NFC East, the situation between McLaurin and the Commanders has not been a good one. McLaurin wants a new contract extension, which he deserves. To this point, Washington hasn’t been willing to pay him what he wants.
“McLaurin could end up staying with the Commanders. Letting him get away would be a tough break for rising star quarterback Jayden Daniels. However, if he is placed on the trade block, a huge list of teams would have interest in acquiring him. Potential Trade Destinations: Bills, Patriots, Jets, Steelers, 49ers,” Evan Massey wrote.
McLaurin’s Trade Request
It was reported last Thursday by ESPN’s John Keim that McLaurin requested a trade.
“Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin, frustrated with negotiations on a contract extension, has requested a trade, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Thursday.
“With the sides far apart, McLaurin held out for the first four days of training camp before reporting Sunday. There has been no movement toward a new deal, one source said,” he wrote.
Will the Commanders Trade McLaurin or Pay Him?
According to Keim, the issue is that the Washington Commanders don’t want to pay him $30 million per season. Considering some of the San Francisco 49ers’ past decisions, not paying some of their top players, it’d be unlikely to see them give up $30 million for a player of McLaurin’s caliber. While he’s a very good player, and could be useful in San Francisco, he’s getting older and is coming off the best season of his career. That often doesn’t end well.
“Team sources have said multiple times that the Commanders won’t trade McLaurin. It’s uncertain what interest he will draw from teams, knowing they would have to surrender a package that tempts the Commanders and then pay him more than $30 million per year.”
As of now, it seems unlikely that the Commanders will pay him, so the 49ers should have an opportunity to get involved in these deals. According to the Commanders’ higher-ups, they want to keep him around, but they also understand there’s a business to this. If the 49ers are willing to move on from the necessary draft capital or pay him, perhaps something could work out for both sides.
“You’d like to get these things done quicker, but it doesn’t always happen that way,” Washington general manager Adam Peters said on the day players reported to camp. “Whatever happens along the way, just understand he’s a great player and we want to keep him here.”
